40 Bits of Wisdom from Ben Franklin
Gleaned from Poor Richard’s Almanack in honor of Independence Day:
1. To lengthen thy Life, lessen thy meals.
2. He that lies down with Dogs, shall rise up with fleas.
3. Men & Melons are hard to know.
4. What one relishes, nourishes.
5. Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason.
6. Diligence is the Mother of Good-Luck.
7. He that can compose himself, is wiser than he that composes books.
8. There are no ugly Loves, nor handsome Prisons.
9. There is no little enemy.
10. Who has deceiv’d thee so oft as thy self?
11. Is there any thing Men take more pains about than to render themselves unhappy?
12. Read much, but not many books.
13. Let thy Discontents be Secrets.
14. Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
15. He that sows thorns, should not go barefoot.
16. What you would seem to be, be really.
17. The things which hurt, instruct.
18. If you’d be beloved, make yourself amiable.
19. He’s a fool that can’t conceal his Wisdom.
20. To God we owe fear and love; to our neighbours justice and charity; to our selves prudence and sobriety.
21. When the Well’s dry, we know the Worth of Water.
22. Dost thou love Life? then do not squander Time; for that’s the stuff Life is made of.
23. We are not so sensible of the greatest Health as of the least Sickness.
24. Write Injuries in Dust, Benefits in Marble.
25. Suspicion may be no Fault, but shewing it may be a great one.
26. The Muses love the Morning.
27. Lost Time is never found again.
28. If your head is wax, don’t walk in the Sun.
29. Clean your Finger, before you point at my Spots.
30. Little Strokes fell great Oaks.
31. Friendship increases by visiting Friends, but by visiting seldom.
32. The Proud hate Pride — in others.
33. Generous minds are all of kin.
34. An ill Wound, but not an ill Name, may be healed.
35. Diligence overcomes Difficulties, Sloth makes them.
36. The Sting of a Reproach, is the Truth of it.
37. He that resolves to mend hereafter, resolves not to mend now.
38. Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.
39. Half the Truth is often a great Lie.
40. One to-day is worth two to-morrows.
